Built right into a vertical cliff face on Italy’s Mount Baldo, the Santuario Madonna della Corona (Sanctuary of the Lady of the Crown) looks as though it is nearly suspended in mid-air.

The church does not actually hang on the sheer face but instead sits on a thin rock shelf that can only be reached by a thin path. Originally the secluded shelf was home to a hermitage where holy men could come for silent reflection, completely removed from the rest of the world. The actual church was built in 1530 and the site became a chapel for anyone wanting to pay pilgrimage and contemplate the nature of God in peace.

Yes - I suspect its a well known view. I had a pleasant ramble around the Reigate heath in pleasant weather - although I believe it was even warmer back up in Scotland. I'm a bit vague as to whether there was direct sun at the time I took the photograph (on my phone) or whether it was partially shaded with light cloud.I believe that the post mill last worked by wind in 1862, and its roundhouse was converted into a Chapel in 1880, where services are still held during the summer.

I see Jack and Jill every morning, unless it is misty, or the cloud is down low. Oldland Mill in Keymer is in working order after a lot of conservation work. Jill works, but Jack has just regained his cap and sweeps after restoration work. Not a functioning mill, though.

I'm still far from home - and the following picture is of a Toon tree - but I'm not in Newcastle

- We were making use of our RHS membership at Wisley.

And the following picture was taken on the way to the new Wisley Stone Pine Café - where we had a pleasant Tea and Cake, having previously gorged ourselves in the Wisley Honest Sausage Café.

The Official opening of the new Wisley entrance buildings is scheduled for 10th June - and the builders are now under way on the new Laboratories at the other end of the grounds. The culture shock we always experience at Wisley is the number of visitors - we arrived about half an hour after opening time, but got one of the last spaces before visitors were redirected to overflow car parks. When we visit Crarae, Arduanie or Benmore on the west coast of Scotland, which are particularly attractive with their Rhododendron and Azalea collections at this time of year, there are rarely more than a dozen cars in their car parks.

Fascinating, as usual, and as usual I found myself going to Wiki/Google to learn more. I'd never heard of a 'Toon tree' and thought it a colloquialism, but it's not, it's from Asia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toona_sinensis

My first impression (before seeing the caption) of the carved pine tree was it was hops, or perhaps mega GM-hops

ps. To avoid the w/e crowds, since we're both retired-early, we do our touristy things, city-centre shopping etc mid-week. If you've the flexibility I highly recommend it. That way we seem to encounter other tourists/visitors, rather than the often more hurried locals too.

You could have got into RHS Wisley this morning before the crowds. It was one of their "photo" days where you can a ticket for entrance before the masses. The family spent 3 hours there this morning, on arriving just 14 cars in the car park.

And continuing my visit to the deep south, I was off to Sheffield Park Garden

and no - in spite of its name, its not in the midlands of England, its in East Sussex.It was in the ownership of the Earls of Sheffield from the 18th century who carried out extensive ground works which includes four lakes, and a layout by Capability Brown. On the death of the 3rd Earl at the beginning of the 20th Century, Sheffield Park was sold to Arthur Soames who continued with the planting, and is known particularly for the rhododendrons. The picture below is a bloom from one of the hybrids he developed - 'Angelo'

Its a late variety - and very large - so I don't have it in my garden!During WW2 several regiments of Canadian soldiers were based, and carried out their training, in Sheffield Park, and post WW2 the garden took many years to be reinstated to its former glory. The National Trust purchased the garden in 1954.The only Canadian evidence which I noticed is shown below

- a Canada goose with goslings.

For any other visitors from afar who find themselves in this area, there are numerous nearby gardens also worth visiting - e.g. Nymans and Wakehurst(own photographs)

Back in Sunny Surrey, this is one of the National Trust's most visited properties.Most of our southern cousins will know where it is, but I thought I would turn it into puzzle for my northern brethren by providing a couple of cryptic clues (anything to take my mind off Br.. and Bo..).OK the first clue is McEwan's Export.And for the few genteel Scots who read Hello Magazine the second clue is Princess Eugenie's Wedding Tiara.